PRACTICE NO.

PD-ED-1230
PAGE 1 OF 6

PREFERRED
RELIABILITY
PRACTICES

SYSTEMS DESIGN ANALYSIS

APPLIED TO LAUNCH VEHICLE
CONFIGURATIONS

Practice:
Use design management improvements such as matrix methods, quality techniques, and life cycle
cost analyses in a systematic approach to systems analysis.
Benefit:
The use of advanced design management methods in each program phase of major launch vehicle
developments will maximize reliability and minimize cost overruns. Significant improvements in
user satisfaction, error-free performance, and operational effectiveness can be achieved through
the use of these methods.
Programs That Certified Usage:
Saturn I, IB and V, Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME), Space Shuttle External Tank (ET),
Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster (SRB), Hubble Space Telescope (HST), High Energy
Astronomy Observatory (HEAO), Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV), Skylab, and many others.
Center to Contact for More Information:
Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)
Implementation Method:
Introduction: As emphasis in the aerospace industry shifts from maximum performance to low
life cycle cost and high reliability, the rate of major technological design advancement is giving
way to design management improvements. Common to these evolving improvements are the
principles and tools of total quality management as applied to systems design analysis. This
practice reviews successful systems engineering methodology as it applies to engineering design
analyses for launch vehicles, and identifies total quality management applications that provide
reliable, low cost aerospace designs. Since designing to high reliability can be correlated to
reductions in the long-term cost of failures and spares, cost emerges as
the systems common denominator.
Systems management, systems design, and other systems approaches are
well-established processes in the aerospace communities for developing

MARSHALL
SPACE FLIGHT
CENTER

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SYSTEMS DESIGN ANALYSIS APPLIED TO

LAUNCH VEHICLE CONFIGURATIONS
all or any part of large, complex systems. The systems design process provides an orderly
transformation of mission objectives into a detailed system design through three continuous and
correlated phases: concept formulation, definition, and design. Effective use of these design
phases has advanced design practice from an earlier single option procedure to the development
of multiple options for trading and selecting optimum performance of mission systems.
A total system decomposes into tiers of systems, elements, and components throughout the
concept formulation, definition, and design phases. Each tier decomposes further into design
parameter tasks which expand and interact with systems, elements, or components of the
respective tier. Tasks identify design parameter requirements, develop design options to satisfy
requirements, perform trades, and formulate criteria by which the best option leading to final
design, specifications and plans can be selected. Total quality management procedures consisting
of matrix methods, quality techniques, and life cycle cost analyses can be applied within the
systems design analysis process throughout all design phases to achieve the simultaneous goals of
high reliability and low life-cycle costs.
Matrix Methods: A system is a set of parts whose behavior depends on the behavior of other
parts. The need to flow scheduled information in a complex system often results in decisions
based on limited analyses and understanding of user requirements and the complex relationship
among interacting systems. Matrix methods are used to make these relationships more orderly,
visible, and understandable. While the work breakdown structure (WBS) is a hierarchical
relationship, it is still one-dimensional and, as such, cannot depict the many interactions between a
systems subsystems, components, and parts. Matrices, however, can be multidimensional, and
can interact with each other in much the same way they do in a relational data base. As an
example, Figure 1 shows a multidimensional matrix progression for payload and launch vehicle
subsystem analysis.
Payload requirements, listed as rows in matrix 1(a), are determined by the characteristics of
payload packages A, B, C, or D, which are arranged in columns. Each payload package,
transferred to rows in matrix 1(b), can be accommodated by selected vehicle concepts arranged in
columns E, F, G, and H. The varying vehicle parameters of each of the vehicle concepts can be
displayed in a third matrix 1(c), showing the concepts impact on each launch vehicle system.
In a three-dimensional matrix, shown on 1(d), the impact on each system element can be assessed.
These matrices, which can progress down further into components and parts, permit interactive
assessment of requirements flow-down and buildup as the design evolves for a launch vehicle that
can accommodate a family of payloads. This arrangement is uniquely adaptable to computeraided analysis.

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Figure 1. Matrix Progression

Quality Techniques: Typical quality techniques applicable to systems design phases are quality
leverage, quality function deployment, concurrent engineering, and Pareto's principle. Quality
leverage, as shown on Figure 2, is greater during the earlier phases of a project. The earlier the
control of objectives, the more timely and efficient are the solutions and modifications.
Concurrent or simultaneous systems engineering is a team effort in which all essential disciplines
participate in the analysis and selection of concepts, components, materials, manufacturing
processes, and major operations. Concurrent engineering is initiated during the concept phase
and may expand and branch into systems and element integration working groups as required
during the design phases. Team success depends on the adoption of the best available practices,
avoidance of previously unsuccessful practices, and on a creative environment fostered by the
teams technical leadership.
Pareto's principle observes that 20 percent of parameters cause 80 percent of results. A
reasonable approach for setting priorities to improve products or resolve problems is to first
address the top 20 percent of the most significant parameters. These parameters are identified

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through histograms of their relative sensitivities to goals, e.g., ideal performance and lowest cost.
The principle may also help specify hierarchic reliabilities.
Life Cycle Cost Analyses: While user
requirements and their accommodations represent one side of the balance,
cost to implement them represents the
other weighing pan. Judging from past
projects, cost goals have not been
achieved too well by the space
industry. A major overrun cause is
stretching the program to match fiscal
appropriations. But aside from
programmatics, designers have a
unique responsibility to minimize
overruns by completing design analyses Figure 2. Design Quality Leverage
at each design phase, controlling
requirements buildup through all design
phases, and reducing sources of engineering bottlenecks. The cheapest design changes are early
paper changes.
Cost models are the mechanisms for assessing trades and for tracking and controlling
requirements buildup. They are initiated in the concept phase and expanded through all phases
and levels of solutions. Models provide the basis for identifying cost driving requirements
(Pareto's principle) and sensitivities in support of exploring innovative methods and concepts for
reducing cost or for assessing vehicle evolution requirements. They provide the source and basis
for making initial high leverage cost decisions and for setting development priorities on critical
tasks. Cost models serve to formulate budget controls, detect cost overruns, and pace efforts
relative to prevailing funds. Good cost estimates throughout the systems design analysis are the
balance and enforcers of successful projects.
Design Phases: The analytical design tools and principles described in the preceding paragraphs
are used throughout the engineering analysis process with increasing intensity as greater detail is
generated about the final product. In cost-constrained environments, the analytical tools and
principles should be used to derive specifications and requirements in a "reverse-engineering"
process which designs the system to a life cycle cost target. The following paragraphs describe
the activities in each phase that will result in the best design product.

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The concept phase is a first-order activity having the greatest quality leverage and, perhaps, is the
most critical for the success of the mission. It is first and foremost a marketing phase which
analyzes promising demands and competition for access to and for operation in space. It
identifies a potential class of user needs, and it scopes missions within doable schedules and costs.
Results of this phase are a set of select, top-level design specifications of customer needs and
mission concepts to satisfy them. It includes a comprehensive set of mission requirements and
constraints; first-order definition of vehicle configuration, systems, and elements; operation
scenarios; and a basis for estimating costs. Subsequent phases peel the systems and elements to
lower hierarchies, and expand the systems process of requirements, solutions, and selections.
The definition phase is a detailed continuation of the concept process in identifying design
parameters and requirements of the selected vehicle concept, and in developing solution options
and selection criteria leading to a vehicle configuration and to system, element, and component
preliminary designs. Results encompass a detailed definition of total vehicle systems and system
elements including flight hardware, support equipment, software, and personnel, and the complete
operational use definition, configuration description, preliminary design, and systems operational
plans. Requirements identified in this phase are documented as vehicle specifications. A total life
cycle cost of elements is also required. Concurrent engineering teams develop selection criteria
and select and verify solutions. Teams include flight, propulsion, structures, avionics and facilities
systems, and should have representation from the mass properties, reliability, manufacturing,
verification, operations, safety, and costing disciplines.
The design phase is the final systems analysis phase and perhaps the most consequential because
its detailed design must fit and function as an integrated whole. It is also in the realm of lowest
design quality leverage. This phase must proceed with detailed bottoms-up costing adjustments.
The systems analysis must penetrate all final component designs for compliance with all tiers of
specifications and requirements, and to amend emanating deficiencies through relevant upstream
design phases. It must assess and assure that integration conflicts and issues are identified and
resolved through all levels of components and systems. It must further analyze and modify
detailed component designs and their integrations for (1) high quality performance, (2) manufacture, (3) verification, and (4) operations at lowest cost.
Technical Rationale:
Many years of experience in developing launch vehicles, propulsion systems, and payloads, have
been combined with emerging design management techniques to formulate a rigorous
methodology for developing low cost, high reliability, launch vehicle for space applications.
Greater detail in employing this methodology than presented here can be found in the references,
and in the recent classic literature on total quality management, project management, and systems

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engineering. Conscientious application of these latest methods, coupled with the use of emerging
computer-based analysis and simulation tools, cannot only improve product reliability and cost
effectiveness, but also reduce the cost and time required for the design process itself.
Impact of Nonpractice:
Failure to effectively use the methods and tools described in this practice could result in excessive
project development time or cost, and failure to attain the highest achievable reliability.
References:
1.

Ryan, Robert, and Verderaine, V.: "System Design Analysis Applied to Launch Vehicle
Configuration, NASA Technical Paper #3326, Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama,
1993.

2.

Steward, D.V.: "Systems Analysis and Management, Petrocelli Books, Inc., New York,
1981.

3.

Blanchard, Benjamin S.: "System Engineering Management, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,
New York, 1991.

4.

Hopkins, J.: "Approaches to Reduced Launch Operations Costs, SAE 901877,

Aerospace Technical Conference, October 1990.

5.

Rutledge, William S.: "Launch Vehicle Cost Trends, Aerospace America, June 1994.